Career Coach in Birmingham

STRIVE is a national leader in workforce development solutions, empowering individuals to discover their best future selves through innovative, evidence-based career training and holistic, lifelong support. STRIVE partners with employers, funders and community organizations to close gaps in workforce needs and help local economies thrive. Founded in East Harlem, NY, in 1984, STRIVE has grown from its roots to now offer programs in locations across the country. For more than 40 years, STRIVE has been a catalyst for economic change and prosperity in underserved communities.

Our tuition‑free skills and job readiness training, one‑to‑one support and lifetime personal coaching prepare students for careers in high‑growth industries such as healthcare, construction and logistics. With a proven pathway to possible, 80% of STRIVE students graduate, 76% attain employment and 70% retain employment long‑term. Looking to the future, STRIVE has embarked on an ambitious ten‑year growth plan to increase its impact in more locations nationwide, aiming to serve up to 10,000 individuals each year by 2033. We meet individuals where they are, providing free programs tailored to adults 18+, including those impacted by the justice system.

POSITION SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Program Director, the Career Coach is responsible for assisting STRIVE students in navigating STRIVE’s education, training, and employment services; accessing resources to alleviate program participation barriers; making connections to supplemental services to achieve goals related to personal development and career readiness; and maximising the information and resources provided throughout the Career Pathways program. The Career Coach will provide group and individual support in the areas of goal setting, decision‑making, processing and applying job readiness and life skills content, understanding assessment outcomes, and more.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and implement effective coaching strategies to help students overcome challenges and barriers to employment and workplace success.
• Coordinate supportive services that will assist the participant with ongoing attendance and participation in program activities, assessing needs through case management principles and making referrals to community resources as appropriate.
• Identify students’ strengths and advise them on how to use those strengths to secure employment or excel in their chosen career path.
• Provide information on suitable career paths based on students’ skills, qualifications, interests, and experience.
• Conduct assessments to gauge students’ skills and abilities and provide feedback on results.
• Develop, review and edit participant resumes to ensure trainees are prepared for job interviews and conduct follow‑up assessments.
• Meet individually and in small groups with students to guide them through the development of an individual or family plan; reinforce curriculum concepts, identify short and long‑term goals, process assessment outcomes, and apply learnings to the decision‑making process about education and training opportunities.
• Coordinate supports that will assist the participant with ongoing attendance and participation in program activities, assessing needs through case management principles and making referrals to community resources as appropriate.
• Meet regularly with students to reinforce the use of skills learned in job readiness activities through ongoing coaching sessions during the education and training phase of program participation, as well as during and after the transition to employment.
• Collaborate with program staff to ensure successful selection and referral of students and implement strategies to assess the abilities and barriers to the employment of students to move them to self‑sufficiency.
• Participate in intake and assessment processes as required, including panel interviews.
• Encourage and facilitate workshop attendance and resource centre access by identifying and reducing barriers.
• Provide incremental retention follow‑up up to two years on all students who completed training.
• Enter and maintain student data in STRIVE cloud‑based CRM.
• Prepare and submit reports and complete data entry as required.
• Collect participant documentation and acquire verification as needed, including income, housing, identity to ensure program eligibility (pending funding requirements).
• Assist with identifying community providers to participate in resource fairs.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A bachelor’s degree preferred, and 1–2 years of case management or related experience.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Proficient in entering data into cloud based CRM platforms such as Salesforce, Apricot, or other comparable platforms.
• High level of comfort interacting with and incorporating data reports into service delivery.
• Has proven experience with program planning and coordination.
• Experience managing several competing obligations and deadlines.
• Adapts to changing circumstances and goals.
• Works well in teams and with diverse populations.
• Accepts and delivers constructive criticism in pursuit of improved performance.
• Is a critical thinker, takes calculated risks, and asks good questions.
• Keen attention to detail and follow‑through.
• Comfort in diverse business, corporate and community settings.
• High energy and motivation to help people succeed.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Energetic, entrepreneurial and fun!
• Strong orientation toward listening to and working with the local community preferred.
• Self‑starter, organised in his/her work, and produces a high‑quality product with minimal supervision.
• Positive outlook on the changing landscape of workforce development.
• Experience in public speaking, volunteer management and/or curriculum development preferred.
• Experience working with human service agencies, education institutions, workforce development.
• Sophisticated written and oral communication skills.

STRIVE offers a rich benefits package that includes:

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Pre-tax Commuter Benefits Program
• 401k with employer match
• 20 days of PTO (pro‑rated for part‑time employees)
• Sick leave
• Up to $500 annual professional development reimbursement
• Paid holidays (including week of Christmas)
• Early closing each Friday during the Summers
• And numerous additional benefits!

This is an in‑office position in our Birmingham office. STRIVE considers applicants for all positions without regard to: race; colour; religion; gender; national origin; age; sexual orientation; marital or veteran status; the presence of a medical condition, genetic information or handicap, unrelated to performing the tasks of the job; or any other legally protected status.